Insect-a-palooza

What to do … Did you know? Label the parts of the grasshopper below. Arachnids (spiders, mites and ticks) are not insects but are relatives.

Millipedes and centipedes are also relatives of insects.

Word Bank Six-jointed leg Antenna Career Exploration Compound eye An example of a career with insects is an Entomologist. What does an entomologist do? Abdomen Thorax What skills are required for this career? Head Wing

Digging Deeper... You Try! Think of places around your home where you might find insects. They live in dark, warm, moist spots. You might find insects around your yard, flower beds and gardens. Go into your yard and look for the following insects; once you find them de- scribe where you found them and what they were doing (eating, sleeping, building, flying). When you find the insect, fill out the chart below:

Name of Insect Where did you find it? What was it doing? Draw a picture of the

Butterfly

Cricket

Fly

Grasshopper

Honey Bee

Ladybug

Mosquito

Marvelous Metamorphosis

What to do… Identify the stages of complete and incomplete metamorphosis.

Word Bank

Egg Nymph Pupa Complete Larva Incomplete Adult

Did you know?

 Two insects are listed as state insects of Tennessee — the ladybug, or ladybird beetle, a beneficial insect, and the firefly, which is known for creating its own light.

 The honey bee is the state agricultural insect.

 The zebra swallowtail is the state butterfly.

You Try! Find a book about insects or look on the Internet to find examples of insects that represent both incomplete and complete metamorphosis.

Name That Stage!

Caterpillar Larva

Grub Worm

Cocoon

Butterfly

Mature Grasshopper

Young Leafhopper Next year in 4-H try out these projects about Mature insects: Cicada Entomology Mealworm Horticulture and Garden